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To get the most out of a recruiting field trip

tips

Given the current trend of including a maximum

of just one or two expats on a proposal, local recruitment and best practices to find the best

local staff remain hot topics within HR circles and beyond. There are clear benefits to visiting

the country where a development project is

being planned — a notion that recruiters and human resources experts share. Here are five

tips to make the most of your time in the field.

PLAN AHEAD Making the most of your time in the

field means leveraging existing

connections and setting up as many

meetings as possible in advance. If

possible, place advertisements in the

area you’re traveling prior to your

arrival in order to review CVs and be

able to spend as much of your time on

the ground meeting and vetting

candidates in person.

1

DESIGNATE a recruiter Although someone on a capture team

is usually assigned to lead the field

recruitment, mistakes can happen if

that person is not properly trained or

focused on staffing. It doesn’t have to

be a recruiter, but someone assigned

only to recruitment should be part of a

capture team or a live proposal

development team.

2

Adapt recruitment methods People are better connected than ever

before, but candidates in rural Nigeria

might be looking for jobs in different

places than job seekers in Malawi.

Recruiting methods always depend on

where you are and getting a sense of

what resource is going to be seen by

your preferred audience. The

successful method might be an online

jobs board, a billboard or a radio spot.

3

Make use of networking A recruiter may visit other aid projects

in the region to solicit staff referrals or

— if a project is about to end —

consider some of the experts for

upcoming assignments. It’s also

possible to travel to different

communities to meet with technical

organizations that do the type of work

you’re looking for, and they can refer

you to others.

4

Take advantage of in-person meetings The trend for international development

organizations to “go local” increases

career opportunities for qualified local

residents, but it also intensifies the

competition for talent. An in-person

visit from a recruiter can help seal the

deal if a candidate ends up with

multiple offers.

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Psst,  here!  

Finding the right global development candidates can be tough. Get more tips on recruiting here.